Melancthon b



(No1 Model.) i

E'. ZELLER.

HAME STRAP BUCKLE.

NITED STATES PATENT Ormea.

MELANGTHON E. ZELLER, OF BLUFFTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. J.ST. JOHN, OF SAME PLAGE.

HAM E-STRAP BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,031, datedSeptember 13, 1887.

Application tiled January 17, i887.

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, MELANOTHON E. ZELLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bluffton, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hame-Strap Buckles, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in buckles especially adapted foruse on the straps of haines; and it consists in the peculiai`construction and arrangement of the parts of the same, as will behereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved buckle of peculiarconstruction, to

which the hamestrap is connected in such a manner that it cannot becomedetached under any circumstances, whether it is hanging loose from oneof the harnes or connected to both of the same, and to provide a bucklewhich shall combine great strength with simplicity of construction,etliciency of operation, and cheapness of manufacture.

One of the peculiar advantages resulting from the use of a buckle andhame-strap constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention isthat the strap is held and connected more securely tothe buckle inproportion to the increased strain or pull exerted by the hames on thestrap, as will be hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a partof a pair of haines, showing my improved buckle and the strap hangingloose from one of the haines. Fig. 2 is avertical central sectional Viewthrough the buckle and the strap, with the hannes partly in elevationand section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the buckle detached fromthe strap and haines, and Fig. 4 is a vertical central sectional Viewthrough the buckle.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denotecorresponding parts in all the figures, A B designate the haines, of theordinary construction, each having a loose ring at its upper end, as isusual.

C designates the hame-strap, which is bent 5o or folded in a mannerwhich will be herein- Serial No. 224,602. (No model) after fullysetforth, to form twoloops, c, which are passed through or engage with theloose rings a, and thereby securely connect the two haines together, andthe free ends of this strap are held or confined in the buckle D of myinvention, so that they cannot become accidentally detached to releasethe haines, while at the same time one end of the strap can be readilydisconnected by the operator, so that the harnes can be removed orapplied, as may be desired. This buckle consists of the side bars, d,the end bars, d', the lower connectingbars, d2, a tongue-bar, d3, and auintermediate bar,d, all of which are formed or cast in a single piece ofmetal for strength and durability. The side bars, d, are preferably ar`ranged parallel with each other, and they are curved into the shapeshown to provide for the peculiar arrangement and connection of theseveral transverse bars, and also to secure lightness in the buckle. Theend bars, d',

connect the side bars at the terminal ends thereof. These end bars arearranged in substantially the saule horizontal plane, and the lowertransverse bars, di, are arranged beneath the plane ofthe bars d and inthe same plane with each other.

The tongue-bar d of the buckle-frame is arranged at a point at or nearthe middle ofthe side bars thereof, and in substantially the samehorizontal plane as the upper end bars, d', and the intermediate bar, d,is arranged a short distance to one side of the tongue-bar and on aplane slightly beneath the same, as will be readily understood byreference to Fig. 4. A tongue, D', is pivoted or connected to thetongue-bar cl3 of the buckle-'frame in the ordinary or in any preferredmanner, so that it is free to turn thereon, and this tongue normallyextends or projects toward the front end of the buckle, so that its freeend rests upon one of the end bars, (Z. This bar d', on which the tonguerests, is made substantially circular in cross-section, and a looseroller, E, is fitted thereon so as to be capable of free rotation whenone end of the haine-strap is drawn or passed therethrough to reduce thefriction between the end bar and the strap and obviate the danger ofunduly wearing the latter.

The hame-strap G is provided with a longi Lli IOO

the strap by the hames.

tudinal slot, f, near one end, and at its opposite end with a series ofthree or more equidistant openings, f, as shown.

The strap is connected to the buckle and haines in the following manner:The slotted end is irst passed beneath the rear end bar d of thebuckle-frame, and then around the tongue-bar d3 and over theintermediate bar, d, so that the tongue of the buckle can pass throughthe slotf or" the strap and its free end rest upon the front end bar dof the buckleframe. The other or free end of the hamestrap is now drawnupon, so that it will press or bear down upon that end of the strapwhich is arranged between Vthe intermediate bar, d, and that portion ofthe strap in the buckleframe. By reason ofthe peculiar arrangement ofthe intermediate bar, d4, with relation to Athe tongue-bar and the strapn the frame, the

strap is very securely held or connected to the buckle, so that the-latter cannot become accidentally detached from the strap when it ishanging loose from the hannes, as shown in Fig. 1. The strap is nowpassed through the ring of one of the hames; as B, and back againthrough the buckle beneath the strap therein and above the lower-bars,d2,'of the frame, thereby forming one of the loops c in the strap. Whenit is desired to connect the two haines together, the strap is passedthrough the ring of-one of the hames, as A, and doubled upon itself toform the other loop c, after which the end c of the strap is passedbeneath the front endbar d and the tongue elevated and passed throughone of the openings f therein, the end c of the strap being finallypassed beneath the rear end bar d and above the other portion of thestrap therein.

It will be observed that the ends ofthe stra-p are very securely held orconnected by the buckle, so that they are not liable to become detachedand thereby release the hames, and that the buckle is of sufficientstrength to resist the maximum pull or Vstrain exerted on The operationof my invention is obvious. When it is desiredto disconnect the hamesand remove them from the animal, the end c of the haine-strap isdetached from the buckle byelevating the tongue and withdrawing thestrap therefrom and from the ring of the vhaine A. The buckle and strapare still connected to the other hame, B, and hang loosely from the ringthereof, as shown in Fig.,1. To connect the hames,it is only necessaryto pass the end c of the strap through the ring a and connect the sameto the buckle in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

My improved buckle can be used at either the upper or lower ends of thehames With equal advantage, as will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art to which it having a tongue bar, an intermediate barVarranged beneath the tongue-bar and above the lower connecting-bars, anda tongue, the

tongue and intermediate bar being located Within lines drawn through thelower connecting-bars at right angles to the longitudinal axis ofthebuckle, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in ahame-strap buckle having upper and lower conmeeting-bars, ofa tongue-bar located in substantially the same planewith the upper connecting-bars, an intermediate bar located betweenthevtonguebar and the rear lower connecting bar, and a swinging tonguetted on said tongue-bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. As an improved article of manufacture, a hame strap buckle comprisinga frame formed ofa single piece of metal and having the side bars, the.end bars connecting the side bars at their terminal ends and arrangedin substantially the same horizontal plane,the lower transverse bars,d2, a tongue-bail located at an intermediate point of the side bars andin substantially the planel of the end bars,and an intermediate bararranged between the tongue-bar and rear transverse bar,d2, a rollerfitted on one of the end bars, and a swinging tongue fitted on thetongue-bar,the tongue and intermediate bar being located withii linesdrawn through the lower connecting-bars at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the buckle, substantially ,as described.

`In testimony whereof I afx my signature-in presence of two witnesses.

MELANGTHON E. ZELLER.

Witnesses:

Jos. FoRREs'fr, C. W. DEsHIELL.

LLL.

